The working group endeavoured to conduct its deliberations in a non-partisan spirit, acknowledging the contributions of all political families to the development of the modern welfare state as one of the finest achievements of social evolution in Europe. More generally, the group rejects any artificial opposition of economic and social objectives in European policy or any arbitrary hierarchical order between them. For the members of the working group there is no justification for an opposition between the individual and society in the European Union. On the contrary European policy in the economic and social sphere is aimed at creating conditions for the fullest development of the individual in society in such a manner that ultimately the free development of each one becomes a condition for the free development of all.